Where To Track Down The Best Canned & Pouched Tuna Selection
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We don't have to sell you on why canned tuna is a total pantry rockstar. You already know that it's an affordable source of protein with a potential shelf life of two to five years. (Step aside, beef and chicken.) Plus, it's packed with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that promotes eye, heart, and neurological health. Done. Easy. No sales pitch necessary. Chances are, canned tuna was already on your grocery list anyway. But, if we may, allow us to point you in the right direction as to where to get it.
For the best selection of canned and pouched tuna, head to Target. Most Target stores boast a massive tinned tuna selection, often spanning an entire aisle or close to it. One particularly versatile and budget-friendly offering in the supermarket's repertoire is Starkist Tuna Creations. If you've never tried these before, they're 2.6 ounces of tuna packed in boldly flavored seasonings with 16 grams of protein and no soy or gluten. Flavors include Thai Chili, Bacon Ranch, Sweet & Spicy, Herb & Garlic, Lemon Pepper, Hot Buffalo, Jalapeño, and more. As an example of the pricing, packs of this brand run for just $1.79 a pop at a Target in Brooklyn, New York. You can instantly whip up a flavorful tuna salad for a snack, or toss it in couscous with some microgreens for a meal.
Target also carries its own Good & Gather brand of chunk light tuna that's killer. Depending on where you're shopping, it costs around $3.69 for a four-pack of 5-ounce cans, and the fish are caught through ethical dolphin-safe fishing practices, sans net.
Can you dig it?
If you don't happen to live near a Target location, there are plenty of other good tuna brands on the market as well. Keep in mind, however, that generic brands aren't always a hit. Walmart's brand Great Value carries 5-ounce cans of chunk light tuna for just $0.92 per can, based on pricing at a New York store location. This price point might sound enticing, but some sources say the tuna's texture is unpleasantly clumpy, overly salty, and dry. It's ultra-budget-friendly, but you get what you pay for.
If you have a little extra time and spending money, luxury purveyor Fishwife makes a delicious canned wild-caught smoked albacore tuna that'll instantly elevate any tuna salad or niçoise salad. Admittedly, it'll set you back $27 for three 3.5-ounce cans, so this one might be reserved for the diehard tinned fish fans.
The white tuna from Conservas Ortiz is a good middle-ground offering. Its albacore tuna is individually line-caught and packed in olive oil. This Spanish brand can be a little tougher to track down in local grocery stores, but the brand's website has a product locator. You could also opt to order a bulk eight-pack of 3.95-ounce cans for around $46, depending on your location, on Amazon.
However you choose to enjoy your canned tuna, the FDA recommends enjoying at least eight ounces of it per week as part of a healthy diet. Warming tuna melts and tuna noodle casseroles make for easy dinners and even easier make-ahead meal prep lunches.